Whiffletree.



T. S. MUFFETT.

WHIFFLETREE. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 25, 1908.

Patented Oct. 19,1909.

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THOMAS S. MOFFETT, 0F ALIVIIRA, WASHINGTON.

WHIFFLETREE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Application filed April 25, 1908. Serial No. 429,188.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs S. MOFFETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Almira, in the county of Lincoln and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiflietrees, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to whiiietrees, and has for its object to provide an extensionwhiftletree which is strong and durable, and simple in construction, and also one which can be easily adjusted to different lengths to suit the work.

A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved hook for attachment of the traces, said hook being pivoted to a support which is swiveled to the whiflletree, which permits the hook to swing in all directions and thus facilitates the attachment and removal of the traces, as well as lessens the liability of the same becoming tangled.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section of one end of the whiflletree. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the whitlletree-hook.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes the main bar of the whiifletree which is tubular and receives at each end an extension-bar 6. The main bar carries an attaching hook 7.

Each extension-bar is tubular and carries at its inner end a radially projecting latchpin 8 which is adapted to enter one of a series of holes 9 in the main bar for the purpose of holding the extension-bar at adjustment. The latch-pin works in al recess 10 made in a block 11 mounted on the inside of the extension-bar at the inner end thereof, and in said recess, under the latch-pin, is seated a spring 12 for pressing the same outwardly into engagement with the holes 9. The pin has a shoulder 13 which engages the inner surface of the extension-bar whereby its outward movement is limited.

Upon pushing the latch-pin downwardly out of the hole 9, the extension-bar is released and can then be adjusted to project from the main bar the desired distance, and when the pin comes into alinement with the corresponding hole 9 it is shot forwardly thereinto by the spring 12 whereupon the parts are securely locked together.

A whiiietree constructed as herein ldescribed will be found especially useful in orchard work although it is not limited to any particular kind of work, it being adapted for any work requiring an extensionwhitlietree. It is strong and durable, and simple in construction, and the desired adjustment can be quickly and easily made.

Each extension-bar carries a hook 14 to which the traces are connected. Said hook is pivoted to a support which is swiveled to the extension-bar to swing on an axis which is parallel to the axis of the extension-bar. The support comprises a stem 15 which seats in the enlarged outer end of the extensionbar and has a circumferential groove 16 which is entered by a pin 17 secured to and extending through the extension-bar whereby the support is prevented from being withdrawn from the extension-bar. On the outside ofthe extension-bar the stem 15 has a shoulder 18 and a projecting ear 19 which extends between the forked shank 20 of the hook 14, a pivotal connection between said parts being made by means of a pin 21.

By swiveling the support and pivoting the hook to the support, the hook can be swung in various directions as shown in Fig. 4: to facilitate the removal and attachment of the traces, and the latter are also rendered less liable to become tangled. The hook may be reversed as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 by rotating the support so that the lhook will be presented rearwardly, and then swinging the hook forwardly on its pivot.

I claim:

In an extensible whiftletree comprising a tubular main bar having a series of holes, and open at both ends, extension bars mounted in opposite ends of the main bar, and having recessed blocks in their inner ends, latch pins movable in said recesses and projecting to enter the holes in the main bar, shoulders formed on said latch pins adapted toV engage the inner faces of the extension bars, to limit their outward movement, and springs in the recesses underneath the latch P In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS S. MOFFETT.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL GARBER, N. W. WASHINGTON. 

